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U. S. SANITARY CUMMiyslOxV. 



10 Cooper Union, Third Avenue. 



OPERATlOiNS OF THE U. S. SANITARY COMMISSION 

•, AT 

BEAUFORT AND MORRIS ISLAND. 



' ■"* New Yokk, Sept. 17, 1863. 

For the intbrination uf our contributors, we have made the 
following extracts from hitc letters received from Dr. M. JM. 
Marsh, U. S. Sanitary Commission Inspector at Beaufort and 
Morris Island. Dr. Marsh has been most ably assisted by his 
wife, who, whilst her husband has been at Morris Island, has 
fully attended to the requisitions of eleven diiferent hospitals 
at Port Royal and Morris Island. We have added to the 
above a list of the goods sent to Dr. Marsh since August 1st, 
1863. Most of these, excejDt the vegetables, were furnished by 
this office, from the contributions of our correspondents. To 
show how faithfully these have been given to the men, and 
how nobly the benevolence of our people has been represented 
by Dr. Marsh, we give also the testimony of the correspondent 
of a Boston paper, and that of Gen. Gillmore. 



^^''^^^- 



4f * -:f * ct ^ soldier from the 115th 'New York, sent 
here on business, inquired ' if they ever paid money here.' 
To my reply tliat everything was gratuitous, lie ansM'ered, 
' Oh yes, I know that ; I have never needed anything myself, 
but I have seen others made so comfortable tlirough your aid, 
that I want to give a little something to be expended for some- 
l)ody,' and laying down one dollar, insisted that it should be 
thus appropriated. Not only are the material wants of the sol- 
dier met by the liberal gifts of your contributors, but they en- 
courage him in the belief that ho is not forgotten in his toils ; 
the same aid from government would not count half so much. 
It does not hurt soldiers to remind them that the poor, as well 
as the rich, are the contributors: that their own mothers and 
sisters are engaged in the holy work of preparing these gifts. 
Many an eye moistens at the thought of this link whicli binds 
the battle-field" to the home." "' "•' 

* * ''^' " Would that you could see the enthusiasm of 
our soldiers ; not only no murmurings, but each man feels that 
lie is to walk the streets of Charleston. To illustrate this, a 
few days ago, as I was assisting in the hospitals, as I frequently 
do, when help is short, five men were brought in from the 
trenches, all requiring important operations ; after the left arm 
of a private in tlie engineers was removed, he, recovering par- 
tially from tlic efi'ects of the chloroform, inquired how soon 
he could walk around ? I said very soon, as you seem rugged ; 
then, raising the remaining arm, he said, 'Thank God I have 
a right arm for Charleston.' 

" If a call were made for volunteers for the most deadly 
enterprise, so many would ofier that a selection would have to 
be made. 

* * * * " I sec that you have sent witli the invoice 

iH ^XCHAMe 

JWN S tiit 



of ice, some eggs, butter, lemons, fresh tomatoes, and fresli 
apples ; these articles, however desirable, do not get here in a 
condition fit to be of service. Cologne water, bay rum, &c., 
may frequently be desirable, but the money they cost can 
benefit the army more, and the rank and file, whose servants 
Ave are, and to whom we minister, do not expect these things ; 
but your curried cabbage, potatoes, onions, crackers, &c., &c., 
throw wide open the gates of Heaven to you, if, indeed, bless- 
ings can open those blissful portals. The soldiers say, ' If you 
give us such things, we will give you Charleston ;' and they 
will do it." 

Articles Shipped to Dr. Marsh since ArousT 1st, 1863. 



90 bottles Porter. 


97 barrels Onions. 


90 


' Ale. 


121 " Potatoes. 


.'324 • 


' Blackberry Cordial. 


105 barrels Boston Crackers 


24.3 " Whiskey. 


25 " Sugar. 


281 


' Brandy. 


14 bowls Jelly. 


24 ' 


'" Rhine Wine. 


23 jars " 


24 ' 


' Bordeaux. 


10 cases " 


72 ' 


' Port Wine. 


8 bottles Ba3^ Rum. 


72 ' 


' Sherry Wine. 


3 boxes Lemons. 


54 ' 


' Raspberry Vinegar. 


4 barrels Green Apples. 


442 " Extract of Ginger. 


" Dried Apples. 


22 gallons " 


3 " Dried Fruit. 


521 ♦ 


' Vinegar. 


6 " Pickles. 


28 bottles Cologne. 


14 kegs 


2251 lbs 


Beef Stock. 


1 tub 


708 " 


Condensed Milk. 


1 keg Tamarinds. 


7004 gallons Curried Cabl^age. 


3 " Sweetmeats. 


150 cans Tomatoes. 


1 box Cod Fish. 


100 lbs 


Chocolate. 


2 lbs. Burg. Pitch. 


129 " 


Oatmeal. 


2 " Glue. 


530 cans Lemonade. 


2 " Rosin. 


240 lbs 


Farina. 


2 " Gum Arabic. 


288 " 


Corn Starch. 


00 " Soap. 


72 " 


Broma. 


5 " Candles. 


80 " 


Cocoa. 


4 dozen Combs. 



24 Sponges. 
7 Hair Brushes. 
1 pair Shears. 
1 box Stationery. 
barrels Old Linen. 
9 " Cotton Pieces. 

3 " Bandages. 

4 " Lint. 
240 Fans. 

7409 articles of Clothing. 
1850 " of Bedding. 



910 pairs Slippers. 
542 papers Tobacco. 
500 Tin Pint Cups. 
500 Spoons. 
200 Tin Plates. 
200 " Pans. 

24 Metal Bed Pans. 

24 Porcelain Urinals. 
1 gross Bottle Corks. 
1 box Pipes. 
200 tons of Tee, in two shipments. 



Off Chakleston, ^^^g- ^• 

Yesterday afternoon our batteries and gunboats kept np a 
terrific bombardment of the rebel Avorks for several hours. 
From the reports we judged the heaviest guns were being 
used. Fort Johnston, Fort Sumter, and Battery Gregg re- 
sponded occasionally. The rebels have of late renewed their 
practice of sending heavy shells away up the Island, above the 
observatory ; but they do no damage ; nor will they Inwt us to 
any extent if they fire that way constantly, for the distance is 
too great. 

The Arago will sail for New York to-morrow, caiTying 
more passengers than usual. 

It is but just that I should notice, in connection with ac- 
counts of military aff'airs in this department, the operations of 
the Sanitary Commission here, under direction of its able and 
efficient manager, Dr. M. M. Marsh. I regret that some cor- 
respondents have either entirely ignored its presence, or de- 
clined awarding to it the high meed of praise to which the un- 
remitting and indefatigable exertions of its agents, both in camp 
and upon the field of battle, have so eminently entitled it. I 
cannot, however, do better than give you facts, which speak for 
it in abh^r and more potent language than I can coinmand. 



Tl,c exertions of its agents for the preservation of the health of 
on,, troops during their ahnost snperh«™a„ labors >n *e 
trenehesupon Morris and Folly Islands, as ^.ell as then tnndy 
and efficient aid in promoting the contort of onr s.ck and 
.vounded during and after the engagements, form a theme ot 
praise to which I confess the incompetency of my pen to do 

notice ; hnt, if the securing of an abundance of necessary sup- 
plies, and alibcral distribution of them at each and every pom 

vUeretheywereabsol„telyindispensable,constitute an element 

of success in -the working of a relief association,, these gent - 
men have certainly demonstrated not only the wisdom of the, 
plans of the Sanitary Commission, but the pre-eminent success 
of their practical working upon the fields and in the camps 
throughout this entire campaign. tt o i •„ 

At daybreak on the morning of July 10th the U. S. b„g 
Dragon dropped anchoroff Stono Inlet, and the red flag of the 
Commission at her masthead announced the arrival of samtary 
stores. A few hours sufficed to take her in and d.sembark the 
necessaries required for the new hospital just estabUshed on 
the western shore of Folly Island. The Doctor, wrth one assist- 
ant, immediately reported for duty; and, as the ambulances, 
teams, and stretchers, each loaded to its utmost capacity 
poured in from the front (the surgeons being all busy a tti^e 
ablcs), the task of unloading the wounded and carrymg them 
to the tables for surgical attention, as well as their removal to 
tents after the dressing of their wounds, devolved, by tacit con- 
sent upon the gentlemen of this Commission ; the cleanmg,. 
clothmg, and feeding of the sufferers formed a later and no m- 
■ onsiderable part of their labors ; and when, upon the following 
Jay, the first charge upon " Wagner " necessitated the rem<^a 
of those whose wounds had already received attention, to make 



room for others, their reloading into ambulances and transport- 
ation to tlie hospital steamer again became the ^vork of these 
gentlemen. 

I hazard little in expressing the opinion that rarely, if ever, 
has the same amount of such labor been so carefully performed 
with less suifering to the patients, without the aid of largely 
increased means ; and never upon any similar occasion have 
the efforts of any relief agents received a more cordial and 
hearty support from the medical authorities, or a more grateful 
appreciation from the men themselves. With the despatch of 
the first boat load of wounded, we, for a time, lost sight of the 
Commission ; but, upon my arrival at Morris Island the follow- 
ing day, I soon met its agents again, all busy in arranging their 
stores and making ready for the prompt discharge of the melan- 
choly duties which subscfjuently devolved upon them. It was 
here, for the first time, that I noticed with pleasure a new 
feature in their work. I learned, upon inquiry, tliat notwith- 
standing the incessant labors of the Quartermasters' and Com- 
missary Departments, the supplies of rations were exhausted, 
and the men at the front were almost destitute of food. In this 
emergency Dr. Marsh presents himself, and, acting upon liis 
theory that a well-filled stomach was essential to the prevention 
of disease during incessant and severe labors, requested the 
commander of each detachment of men in the trenches, and the 
advance batteries, to report the number of his command and 
apply at the sanitary tents for a supj^h' of beef stock, tea, and 
crackers. 

These articles were promptly supplied in quantities sufti- 
cient to relieve immediate wants, and many was the poor fellow 
that then partook with a grateful heart of the luxury of a good 
meal for the first time in several davs. 



No faithful record of the services of these gentlemen upon 
the ever memorable night of the 18th of July ever has or ever 
can be written. They seemed ubiquitous upon the field, re- 
moving the wounded, burying the dead, or staying the life- 
current where the bright red stain from a severed artery upon 
the white sands of the beach betokened its speedy ebb ; and at 
the post hospital aiding in the operations, and up the dock re- 
ceiving and disposing of the poor fellows as they were hurried 
on board, they seemed everywhere present. 

All and every man were loud in their praise, and by none 
were their services more highly appreciated than the medical 
faculty with whom they worked hand in hand, and who, from 
skilled experience upon such occasions, were best competent 
to estimate the value of their services. 

The following order, which will explain itself, has been 
issued by the commanding general : 

Department of the South, 

Headquakteks in the Field, 
Morris Island, S. C, September 9. 
General Orders, ]S'o. 73. 

The Brio-adier-General commandino- desires to make this 
public acknowledgment of the benefits for which his command 
has been indebted to the United States Sanitary Commission, 
and to express his thanks to the gentlemen whose humane 
efibrts, in procuring and distributing much-needed articles of 
comfort, have so materially alleviated the sufferings of the 
soldiers. 

Especial gratitude is due to Dr. M. M. Marsh, medical in- 
spector of the Commission, through whose efficiency, energy, 
and zeal the wants of the troops have been promptly ascer- 



LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 



013 744 409 4 



tained, and the resourcc3 of the Coimnission made available for 
every portion of the army. 

I)y order of 

Brigadier-General Q. A. Gillmoke. 
Ed. W. Smith, Assistant- Adjutant-General, 
Official : Israel S. Sealy, Captain Forty-seventh New Yofk 
Volunteers, Acting Assistant- Adjutant-General. 



HM^ 



